“Even though I’m human and not Dakkari?” I couldn’t help but question.
She hesitated. “We respect theVorakkar’sdecisions. It is our duty as members of his horde.”
Her answer left me a little uneasy.
“But are there those that resent me being here?” I asked.
Again, she hesitated. It told me what I needed to know.
A moment later, Lavi appeared, pushing past the thick tent flaps. She held one open, however, allowing light to pool inside.
“Come,Missiki,” Mirari said, guiding me over to the entrance. “TheVorakkaris ready for you.”
Ready for me?
Sunlight blinded me when I stepped out of the tent. It was unusually warm that day for the season and I felt that heat across my bared flesh, like fingers against my skin.
Two guards were positioned at the front entrance of the tent, on either side, but they didn’t look at me. They kept their gazes averted.
Arokan stood a short distance away from the tent, speaking with the Dakkari male that had also come to my village, the messenger. Their tones were low and Arokan’s gaze met mine the moment I stepped outside.
The messenger’s eyes cut to me as well and I watched his lips press together. Perhapshewas one of the Dakkari that resented me being there.
Arokan said something and the messenger left him, stalking towards the pen of thepyrokithat lay a short distance away. The horde king approached me and I couldn’t help the shiver that raced up my spine at the sight of him….couldn’t help remembering his heat and his tongue between my thighs.
He was dressed as he was yesterday, in nothing more than a heavy cloth that covered his genitals, held up by a golden belt, and thick boots. His exposed shoulders and chest were bronzed from the strong Dakkari sun, those intricate, swirling designs of gold ink glittering as he moved towards me.
He looked every bit the barbarian Dakkari warrior I’d heard from rumors. Only now, I knew his scent. I knew his warmth and the feel of his body against me as he slept.
Arokan of Rath Kitala.
Feeling flustered, I looked from him, past him to the horde settlement spread out across the land.
In the sunlight, it was even larger than I’d originally thought.
Dozens and dozens and dozens of domed, hide tents were spread across the settlement, slightly smaller than Arokan’s. I saw smoke rising between them with mild alarm, but I saw that the fires were contained, raised off the ground in golden barrels so it didn’t scorch the earth.
Some Dakkari were working thepyrokipens, hauling in meat and fresh water for the black-scaled beasts of my nightmares. There were over a hundred of them enclosed in the pen, just a short distance away.
“You ate the broth?” Arokan asked me when he was within arm’s reach.
My eyes flashed up to his and my spine straightened ever so slightly. “I said I would, didn’t I?”
“Every last drop?” he asked softly, those yellow-rimmed eyes on me.
“Yes,” I said. “Although if you made the portion any bigger, I wouldn’t have been able to.”
“Come then,” Arokan said, seeming satisfied with my answers. “My horde will see you now.”
He turned and began walking, those scars across his back pulling. I looked behind me, saw that Lavi and Mirari remained in the tent, and hesitantly began to follow Arokan.
When I caught up to him, I asked, “What do you mean?”
He didn’t answer me. Yesterday, Mirari had said something about Arokan ‘presenting me.’ Was that what this was?
Letting out a small sigh, I simply walked with him because I didn’t know what else to do. Slightly behind him, actually, because his legs and strides were much longer than mine.
At least I’m outside, I thought, deciding to enjoy it. The air was fresh, the sun warm. Every so often, I caught a stray whiff ofpyroki, whenever the wind changed. Sometimes, I even caught Arokan’s scent.
